Complimentary Chiropractic

Congratulations Abigail! You and a friend will receive complimentary chiropractic treatments. E-mail DrJenBickerton@gmail.com to claim your gift certificates.

10 Easy Ways to De-Stress: A Benefit to Your Health

As our environment has changed over time, so has the type of stress. Although we are not trying to defend our dwelling and outrun animals while hunting for food, the amount of stress we have on a constant basis is just as severe. It could be considered more than ever before because we never give ourselves a chance to recover. In our fast paced society we are working more, playing harder, and sleeping less in an attempt to keep up with technology, responsibilities and expectations. A majority of our stress comes in the form of emotions related to our relationships, jobs, and financial obligations.

We don’t realize the toll stress is taking on our health as we keep up with the demands from our modern life. The same “fight or flight” stress hormones that are intended to promote survival turn deadly if they are increased for an extended period of time. Stress has been associated with:

• Hypertension
• Back pain
• Muscle spasms
• Inflammation
• Headaches
• Irritable Bowel
• Indigestion
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Immune suppression
• Hormone dysregulation

Different people handle stress differently and all have an individual tolerance level, but here are 10 easy ways known to help with coping.

1.      Laughter. Research shows that it lowers stress hormones, increases immune function and helps us take life less seriously. Try watching a funny movie and enjoying a hearty belly laugh.

2.      Pets. It is impossible to stay in a bad mood with cute puppy dog eyes staring at you and that excited little tail wagging back and forth. According to one study, pets lowered depression in their owners while another study showed that New York Stockbrokers who had dogs or cats were found to have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t have pets.

3.      Hobbies. Hobbies such as crochet and puzzles are wonderful for giving your hands something to do while focusing your mind and giving clarity to your thought. And golf is a perfect hobby to get the benefits of exercise while spending time outdoors in sunshine and fresh air—and can even be enjoyed with friends.

4.      Music. Music therapy is known to benefit cancer patients, those with chronic pain, children with ADD and anyone in need of pain or depression management. The music beat alters brainwaves to change mood. Faster beats stimulate sharper concentration making one more alert while slower beats promote a more meditative and calmer state. You can try classical music such as by Bach.

5.      Journaling. The act of writing down thoughts helps to explore and release stressful and traumatic events, so that we don’t have to hold onto those emotions associated with them. It encourages us to see patterns in our thoughts and even to reframe them to give us a new perspective. Try keeping a daily journal, motivational speaker Anthony Robbins does!

6.      Aromatherapy. When smelling a pleasant aroma our olfactory receptors (nerves from the nose) send a message to the limbic system in our brain. This system is related to our emotions, moods and instincts. Certain scents promote a peaceful mood. One of the most commonly used is Lavender, but Jasmine, Frankincense and Ylang-ylang are popular too.

7.      Socialization. Have you ever heard that if you help someone else get to the other side of the river, there you will be also? Sharing our feelings while talking with others is a wonderful way to lessen the stress of our burdens for all parties. Even a phone call can help with loneliness. Hearing a reassuring voice is like a mental hug. It can boost our self-esteem as we talk out issues with someone that cares. Try finding a support group with individuals that have the same concerns.

8.      Diet. Foods high in vitamins and minerals support our body functions and when we feel better physically we deal with emotions easier. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day and drink eight glasses of water to keep hydrated. This can turn foggy thinking around in minutes.

9.      Sleep. Allow yourself to go to bed early enough to get at least 8 hours of rest. This is when our body recovers from the day before. Cut the time short and you increase the stress load on your body the next day. Lack of sleep on a regular basis precipitates a cumulative stress effect that leads to aging and illness.

10.  Think. Choose your thoughts carefully and think happy thoughts. This is easier said than done, especially when you are already under stress. Deliberately choosing to focus on something that makes you smile; a picture of a child, a sunset, or a bouquet of flowers, produces a cascade of healthy relaxing chemicals surging throughout the body. Make thinking happy thoughts a habit and you can improve your health.

Now comment on this blog and share your favorite way to relax by Saturday July 30th and you could win complimentary Chiropractic treatments for yourself and a friend. Check back and see if you won on Monday August 1st. The winner will be randomly drawn from those that comment. Good Luck!

 

Encouraging Hope, Health, & Happiness,

Dr. Jennifer Bickerton

Chiropractic Physician

 www.NextGenerationHealthCare.com

623-628-2225

11132 California Ave.Ste. B

Youngtown,AZ85363

DNA or Environment: What influences health more?

Why are some people healthier than others? Is it because of our DNA or something else? –S. of Surprise, AZ

Great question! This one has been debated for a long time. I remember being in a debate in my high school biology class on just this issue. The other girl took the stance that DNA was the leading force that made us develop the way we did and I said it was our environment (although I don’t think I understood at the time everything “environment” entailed.)

Our “environment” includes everything around us, what we see, hear, eat, and breathe in; everything that we are exposed to. Our DNA is not the be-all or end-all to what we are going to be or have in the case of illnesses. Yes, it can predispose us to certain factors if conditions are right in our environment. Let me explain.

Even though some sources are taking the position that our DNA has the power to determine our health or identity, define our human affairs, dictate our relationships, and explain our social dilemmas, this is not true! In reality, our genes may contribute to some of these but they do not absolutely define them. Blair Justice, Ph.D. wrote in the book Who Gets Sick, “genes account for about 35% of longevity, while lifestyles, diet, and other environmental factors, including support systems, are the major reasons people live longer.” Yes, genetics do play a part but usually not the total ruling factor.

What do you think? Did you know that what people think about their health actually plays more of a role in determining how healthy they are or how fast they can overcome illness?  What we see (read or watch on T.V.), hear, or the people we are around influence our beliefs and our thoughts. Candice Pert, Ph.D. wrote the book Molecules of Emotion. Dr. Pert discovered receptors on our cells that respond to our emotions. Every thought we have produces chemicals. She explains how some individuals can actually become addicted to feeling a certain way. She named the receptors on the cells “opiate receptors” because they were the same as when someone is addicted to opium. Interesting, huh? So, maybe forming a habit of thinking positive is not such baloney.

If  thoughts can produce a cascade of chemicals in the body and we know happy people seem to live longer, maybe we ought to think happy thoughts. Now there’s a radical idea!

So maybe you can’t think yourself healthy while sitting in your easy-chair eating potato chips and watching horror movies. But if you are really thinking positive thoughts, they will include things like “I value myself enough to take care of myself” so, “I could go for a walk this morning before it gets too hot” and “I could have an apple instead of a candy bar on my break.” It takes understanding your motivation behind thinking healthy to actually follow through. You won’t do it if it is in your mind as a “should” instead of a “could.” You have to give yourself the choice to think healthy. And the more you make that choice, the more your actions will follow. And never ever berate yourself for not doing what you “should” do. If thoughts are that important, negative thoughts about yourself just make you take two steps backward instead of moving toward your goal. So if you ate that candy bar instead of that apple, enjoying every bite of it with a smile on your face may be healthier for you than being mad or feeling guilty!

Do your best one thought at a time and allow yourself to enjoy life. That’s a doctor’s order!

Encouraging Hope, Health, and Happiness,

Dr. Jennifer Bicketon

www.NextGenerationHealthCare.com

 

Allergy or Sensitivity; What’s the Difference?

We hear everyone say they have an allergy to this and to that.  But do they really? What is an allergy? An allergy is a reaction to a substance or stimulus in our environment, food, air, or even our own body that produces an immune response. Well, that happens a lot doesn’t it? Almost everyone has a reaction to something some of the time. But unfortunately many of these things are not deemed “allergies” when we have the allergy blood tests or skin tests performed. That is because they are checking for IgA immune reactions. Many of these things are IgG, delayed onset reactions.

If someone has an IgA allergy, they probably have self-diagnosed it. They eat something or breath in something and then have a symptom immediately. If someone suffers from IgG delayed reactions, then they may suffer for years before they figure it out. There are some immunoassay lab tests that have the capability of determining some of them but rarely are the tests ordered for the patient. Many times chronic illnesses are developed over time because an allergy or sensitivity has not been discovered.

Why does our body react to things in our environment or food supply? And why sometimes do our bodies suddenly develop an “allergy” or sensitivity to something.  The answer lies in stress. Our body can only endure so much stress and when we have reached our tolerance level, we can develop a sensitivity to something that has never bothered us before.

The biofeedback device we use in our office runs scans on people to see what they react to. Then we use infrared light therapy on acupuncture points to produce endorphins and create a positive relaxing connection to the stimuli that caused the symptoms. Now the body will not see the “allergens” as harmful. Our goal is to reduce the overall stress on a person’s body so they can handle everything they come into contact with.

For more details see our website: www.NextGenerationHealthCare.com

To Your Health,

Dr. Bickerton

Next Generation Health Care

Next Generation Health Care is located at:

11132 California Ave. Ste. B, Youngtown, AZ 85363

Dr. Barnabas Bickerton is offering a

Grand Opening Summer Special:

Chiropractic Treatments

$20 Adults / $10 Kids

Dr. Jennifer Bickerton is offering (BSRT) Bio-Energetic Stress Reduction Therapy for symptom relief related to:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Eczema
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue
• Depression
• Addictions
• Digestion
• Sleep
• Chronic Illness
• Stress & MORE

See our website for more details on how it works and who needs it.

www.NextGenerationHealthCare.com